Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence is situated in the Faculty of Social Work, at the University of Calgary. This one-of-a-kind initiative is led by Lana Wells, the Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence. The purpose of Shift is to empower others to create the social conditions that will stop violence before it starts.

To solve a complex issue like domestic violence, we need to re-think where we focus our attention, time and resources. A primary prevention approach is essential to changing social norms and behaviours that reinforce and support violence. Primary prevention is our edict. This laser-like focus enables us to leverage our research to enhance the capacity of diverse stakeholders with the goal of reducing the number of new instances of violence. Primary prevention approaches can be delivered to whole populations or particular groups that are at high risk of using or experiencing violence. At Shift, we focus on changing policy, legislation, systems, and developing and implementing new programs and practices that will stop violence before it starts.